(11-21-2023, 09:49 AM)Goose Wrote: Fisch has coached "everywhere", but mostly east of the Mississippi. Supposedly, he wants to return to the "east coast". Obviously, that is rumor, but it is plausible. IMO he won't take the Michigan State job even if offered. That is going to be a difficult situation for quite some time and possibly a bit of a "coaching graveyard". Michigan State alums seem to have very high expectations relative to where their program is today. That isn't a problem at Arizona :-).
The UCLA job would be a big step up. Obviously not moving further east though. Fisch has quite a few SoCal players on his current team. They would probably love to return. All that said, it appears ATM that Chip Kelly isn't going anywhere this year. If UCLA does part ways with Kelly, would Fisch be a big enough "name" to lead UCLA into the B1G? IMO no. He would certainly be a great coach for UCLA, but would not make a Lincoln Rileyesque splash in the LA media. FBOW, I think that "counts" a lot in the process.
Syracuse is not a "step up", so not a chance there. I expect Fisch was contacted though, just in case.
Actually, the name (rightly) being floated for UCLA is Jonathan Smith, who was born and raised in Pasadena and has coached in the West his entire career (Montana, Boise, UW, Oregon St). He earned a sizable salary bump and extension last season and is an excellent coach, but his program is on the receiving end of the seismic conference shift so this would make perfect sense if it were to happen.